Deerfield, Ill. - Senior shortstop John O'Brien (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI, but No. 24 Saint Xavier University could not pick up a victory Friday falling, 4-2, to Trinity International University (Ill.) in the third and final game of its Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) baseball series in Deerfield, Ill. The Cougars (11-8-1 overall/1-2 CCAC) tied the game, 2-2, in the top of the fifth inning, but gave up two runs late to drop the nine-inning affair. In addition, senior second baseman Matt Mueller (Burbank, Ill./Reavis) also posted two hits for SXU and finished with a run scored.

The Trojans blasted four singles in the bottom of the third inning to plate two runs and take an early 2-0 lead. The Cougars tied the game in the top of the fifth when Mueller scored from third base on a TIU fielding error and then O'Brien hit a RBI double to left field to bring home senior right fielder Tony Testin (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) from second base. Unfortunately, Trinity International senior right-hander Owen LeFlar shut down the SXU offense the rest of the way allowing no hits over the final four innings, while the TIU offense scored a run apiece in the fifth and seventh frames to claim the 4-2 victory. Junior right-hander Joe Branigan (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) got the loss (1-2) on the mound for the Cougars allowing eight hits, four runs (all earned) and two walks with four strikeouts.

Saint Xavier (11-8-1 overall/1-2 CCAC) continues conference play on Tuesday, March 23, with a road doubleheader against Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.). The first game is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start in Whiting, Ind.